Eight Dead, Thousands Hurt. Brooklyn Streets Are Killing Fields—Who Will Stop the Bloodshed?

A moped and a sedan collided on Ridgewood Avenue at Chestnut Street. The moped driver, eighteen, was ejected and left unconscious, bleeding. Both drivers were distracted. The moped was demolished. The sedan’s rear was struck. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving a moped and a BMW sedan occurred at Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when they collided. The eighteen-year-old moped driver was ejected, suffered severe bleeding, and was found unconscious with injuries to the entire body. The moped was demolished. The sedan, driven by a thirty-six-year-old man, sustained damage to the left rear quarter panel. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other contributing factors were cited. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by vulnerable road users in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819926, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two sedans crashed at Powell Street and Liberty Avenue. Metal twisted. Three men injured. One driver left unconscious with crush wounds. Police say traffic control was ignored. Unlicensed driver behind the wheel. Brooklyn street, early morning, chaos and pain.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at the intersection of Powell Street and Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. Three men were injured. One driver, age 35, was found unconscious with crush injuries. Two other drivers, ages 32 and 41, suffered pain and trauma but remained conscious. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. One driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left one vehicle demolished. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and operate vehicles without proper licensing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818427, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council bill pushes cheaper bike share for students sixteen and up. City’s Department of Transportation must set new rates. More teens could ride. Bill sits in committee. Streets may see more young cyclists. Danger remains. System must protect them.

Int 1287-2025, introduced May 28, 2025, sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older,” would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted rate for eligible students. Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Gale A. Brewer, Shahana K. Hanif, Sandy Nurse, Linda Lee, Keith Powers, Lincoln Restler, Chi A. Ossé, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Althea V. Stevens, and Farah N. Louis. The measure aims to make cycling more accessible for youth, but the city must ensure safe streets as more young riders join traffic. The bill remains under committee review.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

A bus rolls east on Herkimer. The driver looks away. Metal slams flesh. A man collapses, head bleeding, words lost. Children inside the bus sit frozen, one girl clutching her skull. The street holds the wound.

A bus traveling east on Herkimer Street near Van Sinderen Avenue struck a 44-year-old man, according to the police report. The report states the bus driver was distracted—'Driver Inattention/Distraction' is listed as the primary contributing factor. The right front bumper hit the pedestrian, who was crossing outside a signal or crosswalk. The man suffered severe bleeding from the head and was described as incoherent at the scene. Inside the bus, children sat in silence, with one girl holding her head. The police report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807818, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Before dawn on Highland, two sedans collided head-on. One driver fell asleep. Metal twisted. A woman lay crushed but conscious. Two men groaned in the wreckage. The street echoed with the aftermath, silence settling where screams had been.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on Highland Blvd near Jamaica Ave in Brooklyn at 6:54 a.m. The report states that one driver 'had fallen asleep,' leading to the violent impact. The crash left a 37-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger, with severe crush injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious at the scene. Two men, both drivers, were also injured. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'Metal crumpled. The street held the silence that comes after screams.' The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Fell Asleep,' directly implicating driver fatigue as the cause. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The data underscores the systemic danger when drivers lose alertness behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809097, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 47-year-old man on a moped was struck head-on near Putnam Avenue. Thrown from his seat, his face torn open, he lay in shock on the pavement. The street echoed with silence and blood. No one else was harmed.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man riding a moped northbound on Bushwick Avenue near Putnam Avenue was struck head-on and ejected from his vehicle. The report describes the rider as suffering severe lacerations to the face and lying in shock on the pavement. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The moped's point of impact was the center front end, and the vehicle sustained damage to the left front bumper. The report notes that the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the primary driver error. No other persons were harmed in the collision. The scene was marked by silence and blood, underscoring the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those outside of cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800008, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young man rode east in a Mercedes. The driver looked away. Metal struck. The passenger never left his seat. Death came fast, silent, final. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another life to inattention.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old man was riding as a rear passenger in a 2017 Mercedes sedan traveling east on Linden Street near Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The report states that the driver became inattentive or distracted, leading to a collision. The passenger, who remained in his seat and was wearing a lap belt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The contributing factor listed in both the vehicle and person data is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' No other contributing factors were cited. The report does not mention any actions by the victim that contributed to the crash. This fatal incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799398, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Hyundai sedan tore into three parked vehicles on Menahan Street. Metal screamed, glass burst, and the driver bled in the wreck. The night reeked of alcohol. The roof folded. The street fell silent, marked by reckless force and shattered steel.

A Hyundai sedan traveling east on Menahan Street near 411 collided with three parked vehicles—a Honda sedan, a Chrysler sedan, and a GMC pick-up truck—according to the police report. The 29-year-old male driver, the sole occupant, suffered severe facial bleeding and was found conscious inside the crumpled Hyundai. The police report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The narrative describes the Hyundai as having 'plowed into three parked cars,' with the scene marked by 'the night smelled of alcohol and steel.' The impact crushed the Hyundai's roof and damaged the rear ends of the parked vehicles. No pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicle occupants were reported injured. The report places the responsibility for the crash on the driver's alcohol use, with no mention of any contributing behavior by others.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799381, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A moped slammed into a parked SUV on Hale Avenue. The rider, helmeted, was hurled onto the street, unconscious and bleeding from the head. The crushed bike lay silent, the night marked by distraction and speed.

A violent crash unfolded on Hale Avenue near Etna Street in Brooklyn when a moped collided with a parked SUV. According to the police report, the 31-year-old moped rider was ejected from his vehicle, struck his head, and was found unconscious and bleeding. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet. The moped was left demolished at the scene. Police attribute the crash to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' explicitly listing distraction as the contributing factor. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time. The incident underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797756, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council slashed parking mandates in transit-rich zones. Mandates linger in outer areas. Progress, but not full victory. Some districts carved out exceptions. Housing and parking no longer clash in core neighborhoods. Vulnerable road users still face cars in many places.

On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved Mayor Adams's 'City of Yes' rezoning. The bill divided the city into zones: the Manhattan core, an inner transit zone with no parking mandates, an outer transit zone with reduced mandates, and areas beyond where mandates mostly remain. The matter summary states, 'The final plan did not eliminate parking mandates citywide but divided the city into zones.' Council Member Crystal Hudson pushed to eliminate mandates in all her districts. Council Member Shahana Hanif opposed carve-outs. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez called parking mandates 'a concession to cars that we don’t need and can’t afford.' Council Member Sandy Nurse’s district saw mandates shaped by community board amendments, not her advocacy. Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning chair, said, 'parking and housing are no longer coming into conflict in the parts of New York City that are well-served by transit.' The bill passed after compromises, leaving mandates in some areas and progress in others. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• ‘City of … Sort Of’: How Do The ‘Outer Transit Zone’ Parking Mandate Reductions Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-26

City and MTA pour millions into Broadway Junction and East New York. Council Member Sandy Nurse backs a community-led push for green jobs. Streetscape upgrades target safer crossings. Residents demand protection from displacement as new industry rises.

On February 16, 2025, Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37) spotlighted the city's major investment in Eastern Brooklyn. The plan, discussed in committee and public forums, channels $110 million from NYC and $400 million from the MTA into the East New York Industrial Business Zone and Broadway Junction. The official summary calls for 'job creation, green industry development, and community benefits.' Nurse, a key sponsor, said, 'It’s really important that people understand this was a community-envisioned process.' She stressed the need for long-term careers and affordable living. The plan includes public space and streetscape improvements, aiming to boost pedestrian safety and accessibility. Community leaders like Boris Santos welcomed the investment but warned against displacement. The bill’s focus: green jobs, safer streets, and keeping residents in their homes.

• Transforming Eastern Brooklyn: Inside the big plan to bring green jobs and growth to Broadway Junction and East New York, amny.com, Published 2025-02-16

A BMW’s bumper slammed into a man standing off Essex Street. Blood spilled. His arm split open, but he stayed awake. The driver, distracted, kept the night silent. Metal met flesh. The city’s danger pressed on.

According to the police report, at 1:15 a.m. near 151 Essex Street in Brooklyn, a BMW sedan traveling east struck a 44-year-old man who was standing off the roadway. The report states the man suffered severe lacerations to his arm but remained conscious. The collision was marked by the BMW’s right front bumper bearing the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of the crash, according to the report. No contributing factors were attributed to the pedestrian. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by driver distraction, with the victim injured while not even occupying the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789489, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW, steered by an unlicensed man, veered headlong into an Infiniti on Hancock Street. A woman in the front seat, bloodied and dazed, suffered crushing head wounds. Distraction behind the wheel left her stunned and broken in Brooklyn’s morning light.

According to the police report, a BMW sedan driven by an unlicensed man was traveling straight on Hancock Street near Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn when it veered head-on into an Infiniti sedan. The crash occurred at 7:40 a.m. The report states, 'A BMW, driven by an unlicensed man, veered head-on into an Infiniti. A 50-year-old woman, unbelted in the front seat, sat bleeding from the head. Stunned. Crushed. Distraction had taken the wheel.' The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The unlicensed status of the BMW driver is also documented. The 50-year-old woman, a front passenger in the Infiniti, suffered severe head injuries and was left in shock, according to the report. The data does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when driver distraction and lack of licensure intersect on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785130, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pickup reversed into the night. Metal struck a man’s hip. Blood spilled onto cold Brooklyn asphalt. He stood, wounded but conscious, as the street swallowed the noise and the danger lingered in the dark.

A 40-year-old man was injured when a pickup truck backed into him on Fulton Street near Wyona Street in Brooklyn at 8:14 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was standing outside the crosswalk when the collision occurred. The pickup, a 2017 Dodge, struck the man with its right front bumper, causing severe lacerations to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, the primary contributing factor was 'Backing Unsafely,' with 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' also cited. The pedestrian’s actions or location are mentioned only as context; the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s unsafe backing and lack of attention, which led to the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780076, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council grilled industry over threats to raise grocery prices. Instacart and allies warned of harm to the poor. Council Member Nurse called it absurd. Advocates and DCWP backed the bills. Experts said higher pay did not spike prices. Workers want equal protection.

On December 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on two bills to expand minimum wage protections to grocery and all contracted delivery workers. The matter, titled 'expanding the delivery worker minimum wage to grocery delivery workers,' drew sharp lines. Council Member Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn), sponsor, blasted industry claims that fair pay would hurt food-insecure New Yorkers, calling them 'absurd and thoughtless.' The Chamber of Progress, representing Instacart and others, testified against the bills. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and advocacy groups testified in favor, with Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga stating, 'This package of bills would close that gap.' Economic experts argued that previous wage hikes did not raise prices for consumers. Advocates for immigrant and Muslim workers demanded equal wage protections. The hearing exposed the rift between industry and worker safety, with the Council siding with vulnerable workers.

• Astro-Turf: Industry Group Says Fair Pay For Delivery Workers Means Higher Grocery Prices, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-11

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Council members move to close the Instacart loophole. Bills would force grocery delivery apps to pay the $20 minimum wage. Workers ride the same streets, face the same risks. The Council’s hearing is set. Advocates demand equal pay and protection.

On December 4, 2024, Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez and Sandy Nurse introduced bills to the City Council’s Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. The bills aim to close a loophole that lets grocery delivery apps like Instacart avoid paying the $20 per hour minimum wage required for restaurant deliveristas. The matter title: 'Council Seeks To Expand Minimum Wage to Grocery Deliveristas.' The hearing is scheduled for December 9. Council Member Alexa Avilés, chair of the Immigration Committee, called for broader protections: 'When you become a worker, you should be ensured a living wage.' Ligia Guallpa of Worker’s Justice Project said all delivery workers face significant risks and deserve safety, dignity, and respect. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection supports expanding the wage standard. Instacart opposes the bill. The Council’s action centers gig workers who ride city streets, exposed to daily danger.

• The ‘Instacart Loophole’: Council Seeks To Expand Minimum Wage to Grocery Deliveristas, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

A 76-year-old man fell hard on Broadway, his head split open by an eastbound e-bike. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The rider kept moving. Confusion ruled the intersection. The old man stayed down, silent in the chaos.

A 76-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by an eastbound e-bike at Broadway and Mac Dougal Street in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The report describes the scene: 'Head split, blood on the asphalt. He stayed down. The rider did not.' The collision left the man with severe lacerations to his head, and he remained conscious but injured at the intersection. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor, explicitly noting confusion at the intersection. The e-bike was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. No additional driver errors or victim behaviors are cited in the report. The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by pedestrians at busy Brooklyn intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776052, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus hit a 15-year-old girl as she crossed St. Nicholas Avenue with the signal. Blood marked the crosswalk. The bus kept moving. The girl stayed conscious, head bleeding, as the street bore silent witness to the violence of traffic.

According to the police report, a bus traveling north on St. Nicholas Avenue struck a 15-year-old girl in the crosswalk at Stanhope Street. The report states the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal' when the collision occurred. The girl suffered severe lacerations to her head but remained conscious at the scene. The narrative notes, 'Blood pooled on white paint,' underscoring the violence of the impact. The bus did not stop and was described as 'unmarked.' Police list the contributing factors as 'unspecified,' but the report makes clear the pedestrian was in the intersection, acting lawfully, with the signal in her favor. No driver errors are explicitly cited in the data, but the facts highlight the systemic dangers faced by pedestrians even when following traffic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775142, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A motorcycle tore into a turning sedan on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. The rider, helmeted, flew and bled on the asphalt. The car’s side caved. One man conscious, broken, lay in the street. The night went silent.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Eastern Parkway near Herkimer Street collided with the right side of a sedan that was making a left turn. The report states the motorcycle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed,' which is cited as the primary contributing factor. The impact crushed the sedan’s right doors and sent the motorcycle’s front end into ruin. The motorcycle rider, a 39-year-old man, was ejected from his bike, suffering severe lacerations across his entire body. He was found conscious on the roadway, helmeted and bleeding. The sedan driver’s actions are not listed as contributing factors in the report. The crash unfolded at 8:00 p.m., leaving the street still and marked by violence. Systemic danger persists where speed and turning vehicles meet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773077, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14